Mazda Volt?

[Huzer21]

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/08/28/rumormi...olt-competitor/

Apparently, Mazda has a Mazda5 mule running around with a Volt-like powerplant. Plug in hybrid, using a rotary as the generator. Kinda cool. No pictures or anything though.

[MazdaTom]

Why a rotary?

Where have I seen this whole gas/electric thing before?!?!?!? Oh, that's right: train locomotives!!! Diesel electric........ are we retarded?

The diesels in Jettas can get 35-50 mpgs. Now take the load off the diesel from driving the wheels and instead couple it to a generator and you'll probably see twice that kind of economy.

It's like we enjoy reinventing the wheel.

A rotary..... maybe they should put a hand crank in the front bumper instead.

[Huzer21]

Well, one, the rotary is obvious brand recognition. Two, the rotary engine required to put out the equivalent of the 70hp the Volt is producing would be probably half liter displacement. Thus, it would have a potential decent size/weight advantage over a traditional piston engine.